Apparatus for induction heating rotatably mounted piston rings



' H. P. PHILLIPS 2,495,474 APPARATUS FOR INDUCTION HEATING ROTATABLY MOUNTED PISTON RINGS Filed April 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 24, 1950 I N V EN TOR. M49040 P. @144 M25 Jan. 24, 1950 H. P. PHILLIPS APPARATUS FOR INDUCTION HEATING ROTATABLY MOUNTED PISTON RINGS Z5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1945 Jan. 24, 1950 H. P. PHILLIPS APPARATUS FOR INDUCTION HEATING ROTATABLY Filed April 5, 1945 MOUNTED PISTON RINGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. M45040 1? Pf/ML/FJ Patented Jan. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR INDUCTION HEATING ROTATABLY MOUNTED PISTQN RINGS Application April 5, 1945, Serial No. 586,777

16 Claims. (Cl. 219-13) The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an apparatus, for use in hardening the cylinder wall contacting surface of split resilient piston ring elements which is efiicient and of large capacity.

Second, to provide an apparatus of this character in which the split piston ring elements are rotatably supported and rotated or passed through the heating zone of an induction heater and into a quenching medium as a continuous operation.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevation of one embodiment of my invention, the heating coil being shown in retracted position by dotted lines, certain of the parts being shown conventionally.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of the work holder or chuck for rotatably supporting a split piston ring element.

Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective view of a piston ring element after hardening, the hardening being shown conventionally.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modified form or embodiment of my invention with a piston ring mounted on the chuck.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partially in section on line 6-6 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view partially in section on line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of still another embodiment of my invention, the heating unit being shown in retracted position.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view mainly in section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in section on line lfll of Fig. 9.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I provide a support I having a bearing 2 for the shaft 3. This shaft is provided with a head 4 having forwardly projecting headed studs adapted to engage the key-hole slots 6 of the disk-like work holder or chuck I. This chuck or work holder preferably has a cen-. tral grip or finger piece 8 which enables it being easily rotated to release the chuck as may be desired. However, the work 9, a split resilient ring, may he slipped upon the chuck without removing it from the head 4. The chuck is provided with a notch it for facilitating positioning of the chuck.

The split resilient rings 9 may be formed as castings and when formed as castings they are machined on the periphery and sides as a preliminary to hardening. The expanded rings clampingly engage the chuck so that they are rotatably supported relative to the induction heater l I. This induction heater is preferably of the coiled type and is mounted on the block or support l2 pivoted at [3 to be swung away from the work as shown by dotted lines or into operative relation to the work as shown in Fig. 2 in which position the work projects between a pair of adjacent coils so that as the work is rotated its periphery is successively passed through the heating zone of the induction heater.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the'cooling medium 14 is contained in the tank [5 so that the work after successively passing through the heating zone is successively passedthrough the tempering medium. The motor I6 shown conventionally in Fig. 1 is connected by the gear I l on the motor shaft to the gear I8 on the shaft 3. It will be understood that any suitable driving means may be provided. I have notillustrated the starting and stopping switch means which preferably is designed to stop the chuck on the completion of a rotation thereof and pref.- erably the heater coil is automatically thrown out of operative position but I have not attempted to illustrate that in this figure.

The tempered or hardened peripheral portion of the work is indicated at IS in Fig. 4 and I have not attempted to point out the relative depth of hardening as it will be understood as this is varied as may be desired. With this apparatus it may be varied through a considerable range.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7 the resilient ring or work 9 is rotatably supported upona chuck comprising a plurality of flanged rollers 20 which rollers are mounted on slides 2| supported in slot-like radial ways 22. The springs 23 act to yieldably urge the slides outwardly. The inner flanges 24 of the rollers project beyond the outer flanges 25 to facilitate the positioning of the work. The slides 2| have projecting lugs or studs 26 on their rear sides which are engaged by the cams 2'! of the cam member 28 rotatably mounted at 29. This cam member is provided with a handle 30. When the cam member is actuated in one direction, clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6, the cams 21 engaging the studs force all of the slides in' wardly, thus contracting the chuck to receive or permit the removal of work.

The work is driven from driving wheels 3! which engage the periphery thereof, these driving wheels being connected by the belt or driving means 32. The source of power is illustrated at 32L The induction heater ll illustrated is of the coil type and as the work is rotated it is presented between the adjacent coils the same as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The work may be quickly chucked and released and is effectively rotated. In this embodiment, the cooling medium is discharged against the heated work by means of a spray nozzle 33 disposed at the rear of the heating unit.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 8, 9 and the work 9 is rotatably supported by a plurality of grooved chucking rollers 34 substantially the same as the rollers 20. These rollers 34 are supported on slides 35 mounted in the slot-like ways 36 of the support 31.

The shafts 38 of the rollers 34 are provided with sprocket wheels 39 engaged by the sprocket chain 40 common to all of the sprocket wheels. Certain of the reaches of the sprocket chain are engaged by spring pressed idlers 4| yieldably supported by the springs 42 to take up the slack of the chain and allow the chucking rollers to be is collapsed or the joint closed as shown in Fig.

8. The slides are simultaneously actuated by means of the cam member 43 which is rotatably mounted at 44, see Fig. 9, and frictionally held in its adjusted position by means of the friction disk 45 and the spring washer 46v This cam member is provided with inclined cam slides 41 which engage the grooves 48 in the slides, see Fig. 9. A handle 49 is provided for actuating the cam memher. When the cam member is actuated in one direction the clutch slides are simultaneously moved inwardly to clutch the work and when 0perated in the opposite direction they are simultaneously moved outwardly to release the work. In this embodiment the induction coil heater 1! is mounted on a pivoted support 50 having a gear 5| connected to its pivot, the cam member having a rack 52 meshing with the pinion to automatically swing'the heater unit to and from operative position as shown by full and dotted lines in Fig. 8. In this embodiment, the cooling medium is discharged by a nozzle 33. An adjustable tappet 53 is provided to operate the switch 54 to automatically start the motor 55 and to energize the coil.

With this arrangement of parts, work such as split piston ring elements may be very quickly chucked and released and they are positively rotated through the heating zone of an induction heater preferably of the coil type, the heater being presented sidewise to the work. This enables the accurate adjustment of the heater relative to the work. Means for timing the rotation of the work may be easily provided. I have not attempted to illustrate such timing means.

I have illustrated and described three embodiments of my invention which I consider highly practical and suitable for practicing my method broadly considered. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will 4 enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In apparatus for hardening the peripheral cylindrical contacting edge of a split resilient ring element, a rotatable head, a disk-like chuck mounted on said head, said chuck being adapted to peripherally receive a ring element to support the same with the ring element in clamping retaining engagement with the chuck, and an induction heating coil tiltably mounted to swing in the plane of the chuck to be presented edgewise to a rin element mounted on said chuck with the peripheral edge of the ring element in spaced relation to adjacent convolutions of the coil and in overlapping relation to the periphery of the ring element.

2. In apparatus for hardening the peripheral edge of split annular work, a rotatable chuck adapted to peripherally receive the work to support the same with the work in clamping retaining engagement with the chuck, an induction heating coil including laterally spaced convolutions disposed on the opposite sides of the plane of the work receiving periphery of said chuck to permit of the work being rotated between said coil convolutions, and means for adjustably supporting said coil disposed to adjust the same from an operative position with said coil convolutions disposed on opposite sides of the work to an inoperative position radially outwardly beyond the periphery of the work.

3. In apparatus for hardening the periphery of annular work, an induction heater coil having laterally spaced convolutions, a chuck rotatable in a plane intersecting the axis of said coil and for rotatably supporting the Work with the peripheral edge thereof between adjacent convolutions of the heater coil, and pivoted means for adjustably supporting said coil, the pivotal axis of said pivoted means being disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said chuck to permit the coil to be adjusted from an operative position with said coil convolutions disposed on the opposite sides of the work to an inoperative position radially outwardly beyond the periphery of the work.

4. In apparatus for hardening the peripheral cylinder contacting edge of a split ring element, an induction heater'coil having laterally spaced convolutions, means disposed for rotation in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the coil and disposed for rotatably supporting a split ring element with a peripheral portion thereof between said laterally spaced convolutions of the heater coil, and a pivotally mounted block supporting said coil and disposed with its pivotal axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said ring supporting means to permit the coil to be adjusted from an operative position with the ring element disposed between said spaced convolutions to an inoperative position radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the ring element.

5. In apparatus for hardening the periphery of annular work, an induction heater unit having laterally spaced parts, means mounted for rotation in a plane disposed between said spaced parts and for rotatably supporting the annular work with the peripheral edge thereof within the heating zone of the heater unit, and pivoted means supporting said heater unit disposed with its axis parallelto the axis of rotation of said work supporting means to permit the heaterunit to be adjusted from an operative position with said laterally spaced parts on opposite sides of the Work to an inoperative position radially outwardly beyond the periphery of the work.

6. In apparatus for hardening the peripheral cylinder contacting portions of a split ring element, an induction heater coil having laterally spaced convolutions, means disposed for rotation in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the coil and disposed for rotatably supporting and rotating a split ring element with its edge between convolutions of said heater coil, and means adjustably supporting said coil for movement from an operative position with the ring element disposed between said adjacent convolutions to an inoperative position radially outwardly beyond the peripery of the ring element.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support provided with radiating ways, bearing slides mounted in said ways, springs acting to urge said slides outwardly, peripherally grooved chuck rollers rotatably mounted on said slides to rotatably support annular work, a cam member having a plurality of cams mounted on the rear of said support to coact with said slides whereby the chuck rollers may be simultaneously retracted to facilitate engagement and removal of work, and driving rollers mounted on said support to engage the periphery of the work mounted on said chuck rollers.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support provided with radiating ways, bearing slides mounted in said ways, springs acting to urge said slides outwardly, chuck rollers rotatably mounted on said slides to rotatably support annular work, and driving rollers mounted on said support to engage the periphery of the work mounted on said chuck rollers, and means operatively connected with said slides for adjusting the same inwardly against the outward stress of said springs.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support provided with radiating ways, slides mounted in said ways, springs acting to urge said slides outwardly, chuck rollers rotatably mounted on said slides to rotatably support annular work, means for simultaneously retracting said slides to facilitate the engagement and removal of the work, and a driving roller coacting with the periphery of the work mounted on said chuck rollers.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support provided with radiating ways, slides mounted in said Ways, chuck rollers rotatably mounted on said slides to rotatably support annular work, said support constituting means for holding said ways stationary to prevent movement of said slides and chuck rollers bodily around the annular work while the rollers rotatably support the annular work, means for simultaneously retracting said slides to facilitate the engagement and removal of the work, and means for driving the work.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support provided with a plurality of roller supporting slides, chuck rollers rotatably mounted on said slides for movement towards and from a piston ring element, said rollers constituting means for engagingly and rotatingly supporting a piston ring element, said support constituting means for limiting said slides and rollers against continuous movement bodily around the ring element while the rollers rotatably support the ring element, and a driving roller mounted on said support to drive the work mounted on said chuck rollers.

4 12.- In-an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plurality of chuck rollers for engagingly and rotatingly supporting a piston ring element, and. a driving roller driving the work mounted on said chuck rollers, and means for supporting said chuck rollers against continuous movement bodily around the ring element while rotatably supporting the ring element. -13.- In an-apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support provided with a plurality of ways, bearing slides mounted in said ways, chuck rollers rotatably mounted on said slides for movement towards and from a piston ring element, said rollers constituting means for engagingly and rotatingly supporting a piston ring element, said ways being stationary to hold said slides and rollers against movement bodily around the ring element while the rollers rotatably support the ring element, means for simultaneously retracting said slides to facilitate the engagement and removal of the work, and driving connections for said chuck rollers.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support provided with a plurality of ways, slides mounted in said ways, driven chuck rollers rotatably mounted on said slides to rotatably support annular work, said support constituting means for holding said ways stationary to prevent movement of said slides and chuck rollers bodily around the annular work while the rollers rotatably support the annular work, and means for simultaneously actuating said slides to facilitate the engagement and removal of the work.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support provided with a plurality of radially disposed ways, slides mounted in said ways, chuck rollers rotatably mounted on said slides to provide supports for annular work, means for driving the work while supported on said chuck rollers, means for simultaneously actuating said slides to facilitate the engagement and removal of the work comprising a rotatable cam provided with a rack segment, and a swingably mounted induction heater provided with a pinion coacting with said rack whereby the heater is swung to and from operative relation to the work by the actuation of said cam.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support provided with a plurality of radially disposed ways, bearing slides mounted in said ways, chuck rollers rotatably mounted on said slides to provide supports for annular work, a swingably mounted induction heater, and means for simultaneously actuating said slides to facilitate the engagement and removal of the work and for swinging said heater to and from operative relation to the work.

HAROLD P. PHILLIPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,322 Goodridge May 25, 1943 635,608 Steward Oct. 24, 1899 648,763 La Barge May 1, 1900 681,320 Hood Aug. 27, 1901 1,171,406 Avery Feb. 15, 1916 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 1 Number Name Date 2,239,552 1,507,686 R001; Sept 91 1.9 2,281,426 1,567,074 Mudd v v Dec;- 29, .1925 2,308,783 1,711,835 Davis V May-7, 1,929 2,371,459 1,803,847 Ellis May 5, 1931 2,334 457 1,889,986 Haywood Dec. 6.. 1932 2,022,154 Rothweiler Nov. 26, 1935 2,125,606 Deeb Aug 2, 19.38 10 Number 2,188,569 Endsley V Jan. 30, 1940 225,333

Name. Da e Denneen et, a -1-- 1 1 1512 11 49 Somes Farr Apr. 28,1942 Somes Jan. 19, 1 943 Mittelmann Mau 13, 1945 Dewey Sept. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 11. 1.923 

